Château Doisy-Védrines 2018

Complex, interesting, still restrained aromatics of candied fruits and fresh herbs, botrytis, nuts; slender attack, elegant structure, good length with a slight bitter note, elegant and refined, which is rare this year. Let it age a bit; we like this a lot. Great value.

Ginger, graham cracker and brioche notes lead the way in this unctuous and flattering version, with creamed peach and peach notes carrying through the finish. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2030. 4,000 cases made.

Extremely rich in texture on the attack. This is hugely concentrated, combining power and poise with white peach and pear flavors, shot through with lemon and lime. Knitted down right now. 37% new oak. A yield of 10.5 hl/ha.

A fresh, creamy Sauternes with sliced lemon, dried apple and hints of apricot and honey. Medium-bodied with light sweetness and a fruity finish. Drink now.

Even better than a few years ago, now you find caramel, honey, flowers, and fresh, sweet, overripe pineapples with a hint of spice, racy, honeyed apricots, and orange rind. Drink from 2024–2040.

Medium yellow gold, silver reflections. Delicate botrytis and caramel, discreet herbal savouriness accompanies the honey sweetness, baked banana. Medium-bodied, distinct sweetness, seems powerful, a hint of grapefruit on the finish, mineral-peppery, will benefit from bottle age. (2025-2045)

Radiant golden yellow. Intense apricot bouquet, with delicate Bourbon vanilla in the background, warm mirabelle tart and freshly picked cherry plum. A layered palate with an oily texture and a peppery wealth of extract. Aromatic finish of linden blossom honey, orange oil and preserved kumquats.

A blend of 87% Semillon and 13% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2018 Doisy-Vedrines has 132 g/L of residual sugar and is pale to medium straw-gold in color. Playing things close to its chest, the 2018 delivers notions of fragrant cedar, spice cake, fresh ginger, and shaved almonds to begin, before revealing decadent notes of peach preserves and ripe pineapple, followed by wafts of acacia honey and candle wax. The palate is densely laden with opulent tropical and stone fruit layers, framed by just enough freshness, finishing long and hedonic.

The nose is fresh, fruity and indulgent, with a precise definition of the fruit. It reveals notes of lychee, candied kumquat and, more delicately, crystallized mandarin, together with small touches of crystallized lemon and fine hints of lemon blossom, mandarin blossom, a hint of green apple, fine hints of candied apricot and an imperceptible touch of honey. The palate is gourmand and confit, offering roundness, a fine tangy backbone, tension, a fine, racy minerality and a touch of freshness. On the palate, this wine shows notes of candied apple, candied pear and, more lightly, candied lemon, combined with touches of roasted pineapple, crystallized quince, candied apricot, fine hints of pastry/honey, a very discreet hint of almond, an imperceptible hint of almond blossom and verbena (in the background). Good length. A very discrete touch of vanilla on the finish.